Study...Date? (Library - October 24 - Remus)

[Charlotte Fudge]

continued from here

Did...did she have something on her face? In her hair? Was that why he was looking at her so intently? Must be. But she - she hadn't meant to make him feel uncomfortable, and nodded contritely at his mumbling. "It's - it's fine, you don't need to," she stammered out herself, wondering why she wasn't able to hold her tongue around this boy - she did around everyone else! Remus agreed to the terms she set about the game, and after they broke - he with her list, she with his - he said...that.

A proper date? Remus' words echoed in her mind as he hurried away. She watched him rather breathlessly until he'd disappeared into the stacks, the words still bounding around inside of her. There were no doubts, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. This was a date. Remus Lupin was interested in her. The thought made her feel oddly giddy - a new experience for the girl, who before had only gotten giddy-esque feelings over books or a particularly well phrased argument or in making a new connection during her research - and she didn't quite know what to do with it. She was incredibly grateful for the short time they had away from each other so she could have some recovery time, because he had asked her out and she hadn't even realized it. If that didn't show how far behind she was in her social development, she didn't know what would.

Relax, Charlotte. You knew this was a possibility, and now he's made it affirmative. So the question is - knowing this, do you stay?

    Of course I do, would be rude to leave -

No, Charlotte. Do you stay and lead him on?

    Who said I'd be leading him on?

She smiled to herself, realizing this, and - having wasted enough time in so many ways - grabbed the parchment he'd written on, skimmed his list, and set off after checking her watch. In no way did she have the time she needed to find everything on his list and return to their table, but she could get a few. Familiar as she was with the library, it wouldn't be too difficult. She began with one of her favorite authors, whose books were in the Ancient Studies section they were already in (she excitedly snagged the thick tome Wizards of Ancient Egypt) and then headed east to the Divination stacks for something that could be boring (the subject was much too fuzzy for the logic-minded girl, and Char balanced Carromancy for the Curious on top of her preferred text). She checked the list, mentally crossing off two of the lines and feeling oddly giddy again, looking at his writing, and - Focus! One more, just one more, and then she'd get back to the table. What she would say when they were both there was - er - an unknown, but they'd figure it out.

Because the younger Gryffindor wasn't leading him on. This was her first date. She wanted to be here. With him.

With another smile, Char headed over to the Muggle Studies department, her fingers brushing against the worn spines of the many books the stacks offered, until she gently pulled out a tattered copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales. This was the first text she'd checked out at the magical library; she'd always been intrigued by the muggle world, but in her youth hadn't been permitted in, and thought that a book of fairy tales - sure to include some reference to how the other world saw her own - would be a good way to start really learning about them. Satisfied with her choosings, and always one to believe that quality outweighed quantity, Charlotte made her way back to their table. She set them down at her seat, wondering if, when he arrived, she should bring up what he'd said, or just talk about their books...

---

Charlotte's List for Remus

Find Me A Book

• you love, or think you could
• by your favorite author
• in your favorite color, or an interesting one
• that is unexpected (ex: talks back, disappears, will only open if asked nicely)
• of your choosing

Remus' List for Charlotte

Find Me A Book

• first book you ever checked out
• by your favorite author
• a book you think might be boring
• you love, or think you could
• of your choosing

[Remus Lupin]

Remus felt like a bloody idiot. He should have just kept his mouth shut. While he was feeling guilty for not asking her out to Hogsmeade or something of the sort, there was nothing wrong with a study date. He had been so sure of that when he had told Sirius and James that he had asked her out. He was positive this was the kind of date she would like, she wasn’t like the girls that his friends tended to take out. Sirius and James had sworn that she wouldn’t know it was a date, and he had let himself believe them. And then opened his silly mouth and said those words before hurrying off into the bookshelves like a fool.

He only realized after a few minutes that he had just been wandering around the library aimlessly, and wasn’t doing well at all collecting the books he needed for his scavenger hunt list. Mentally cursing himself, he fumbled with the paper, looking around to see where he was at in the library. He was near a good section of books regarding dragons, and while he hadn’t read Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit he was sure that is was a good read, and probably very informative. He picked up it, holding it in his arm as he wandered over towards the Muggle Studies section. It didn’t take him very long to find the book he was looking for, The War of The Worlds by H.G. Wells. He had never read the book, but it was one of his mother’s favorites to read so it had to be decent.

He wandered back through the library, pausing when a book caught his eye. It could have been because of the deep blue color that the book was, but it was mostly the title. Lupine Lawlessness: Why Lycanthropes Don’t Deserve to Live. He picked it up, turning it over in his hand. He hadn’t seen it before, in his many years at the library. He felt a twang in his stomach as he looked at the book, before stacking the other two on top of it. He wanted to read it for his own sake, momentarily forgetting about the scavenger hunt.

As he walked by the table, he realized that Charlotte had already returned. He forced a smile, sitting down near her and placing the books on the table, ”I uh, didn’t get all five. Sorry.”

[Charlotte Fudge]

"That's all right," she said, giving him a gentle smile as he sat next to her, gesturing to her trio of books. "Me neither." 

Not quite sure how to proceed, Charlotte tilted her head to the side to read the titles on the spines of the books he'd grabbed, and was rather delighted that she hadn't read any of them. Especially that bottom one - but that was so she didn't waste time thinking about such an absurd argument. She was interested to hear his opinions of the others, but that bottom one was making her stomach churn, and after she’d twice read the ridiculous title of the text to ensure she'd processed the words properly, she looked back up at him.

"But that’s not the right question," she said as if it was obvious, her brows furrowing slightl . Obviously Remus couldn’t agree with this, kindhearted as she knew him to be, but that didn’t stop her from going off on a tangent, as seemed to be becoming quite the habit with him."Whether or not lycanthropes are deserving of life isn’t the right question," she echoed more fully. "It’s a waste of time, energy, brainspace - paper - " she said, reaching across him to slide the other books off of it. She picked up the text and leaned back, continuing to speak rapidly as she opened the book in her lap and started flipping through it. "Simply a waste to ask such a question. They are living, and one can't play Creator, deciding who lives or who dies based on a condition. Attempting genocide has never lead to anything productive, whether we’re talking species or religions or, more currently, non-magical people. The productive question is how to help them become less dangerous during the full moon - how to help them retain their sentience during transformations, or otherwise moderate the change in temperament, or even quell the change altogether." Charlotte paused in her speech to quickly read the inside cover, by the end of which she was shaking her head in amusement. "The good news is," she said, looking up at him with a slight smile, “that anyone with half a brain shouldn’t be convinced of anything in here - see?" The girl set the book on the table and, in pointing out a few choice lines, leaned closer to him. "He’s "proven" that werewolves, after bitten, have lost their morality absolutely, even while "appearing" human. Which has thoroughly been tested to be false, as everyone should know. So, Professor Picardy,” she said playfully, addressing the book as she snapped it shut, “you haven’t fooled anyone today. You and your bigotry would be more useful as a satirical work. Or a coaster."

Charlotte only then realized how...much she'd spoken. He was going to think her - well, she didn't know what he would think, but she didn't want him thinking that all she did was speak. Most times she rarely did, actually. But whether it was nerves at being on a date making her run her mouth, or simply finding herself growing comfortable around him, she couldn't quite control herself. "I...I promise I’m not prone to rants - or, rather, entirely composed of them," she said more quietly, embarrassed; she really hadn't meant to go off like that, but she'd done enough reading about historical genocides and the like to know that they were not a solution. She had trouble holding back when an opportunity presented it to her to give her well-informed opinion, but Alex had instructed her to keep things light, and what did she do? Wholeheartedly criticize a book he'd chosen, when she didn't even know why he'd picked it, and even alluded to the current troublesome affairs of their world. Yes. Light. "Did you choose that for - er - the color?” she asked awkwardly, as she realized both her misplaced rant and their closeness.

"And, by-the-by," Charlotte said hesitantly, gathering up her nerve, "the library was a grand idea."

[Remus Lupin]

He felt better as she gestured to her stack of books, only having grabbed three herself. He leaned over towards her to read the titles on the spines, intrigued to see what she found in the vast library for him to discover. He smiled as he recognized Grimm’s Fairy Tales, a book that his mother had read to him when he was a child. He was lost in his thoughts when Charlotte suddenly snapped him back to reality with her words. He sat up straight, staring at her in a confused manner before he realized she was referring to one of the books.

He glanced over as she continued to rant, perplexed and not sure how to responded. He wanted to stop her from taking the book, but he kept his hands by his sides and let her take the book, staring at her in awe as she continued talking. Her words made his heart pound, and he felt such a rush of emotions for the girl that he wasn’t sure he could contain himself. He knew he had to be smiling at her like a complete fool, but he wanted to nothing except lean over and kiss her. Which was a thought he wasn’t expecting to pop into his head, and he shook his head slowly as she finished speaking.

”No, no. It’s fine. It’s cute to watch,” he replied, before feeling a blush creep up his neck. ”I mean uh. It’s nice to have someone to debate things with, you know?” He reached over for the book, staring at it quietly. While he hadn’t intended to bring the book with him, there was a part of him that was glad that he did. To hear those words from her, even without her knowing, was enough to make him feel like he could accomplish anything. He looked up at her, ”I mostly picked it for the color. I agree with you, you know. It’d make a nice coaster.”

He sat it down gently, before leaning towards her slightly, ”I uh. I’m glad. I just thought it would be comfortable…” He wasn’t sure what to do now, and he moved his hand towards hers slightly before realizing that they were in a very public place and he sat back up. ”Grimm’s Fairy Tales is an excellent choice.”

[Charlotte Fudge]

The pair of Gryffindors leaned towards each other to see what the other had brought back, and Char again felt that kindredness towards him at his genuine interest in her, in the books she'd brought, but the increased proximity may have been what prompted her spontaneous speech. Nervous reaction, as it were. As Charlotte spoke, she was mainly addressing the absurd book, but caught some shifts in Remus as she went on. He kept his eyes on her, which was one of the reasons why it was easier to speak to the book, as she didn't quite know how to react to him looking at her, at someone giving her their whole attention. He began confused - rightly so, she'd rather jumped into a rather lengthy speech without warning - but was then...looking at her a bit fondly? If she was reading his smile right in a quick glance - she could be absolutely incorrect, not knowing him well, after all.

She looked to him after she'd finished, and was surprised at the fondness with which he still seemed to be looking at her with, and when he spoke she knew she'd instantaneously matched his blush, a gentle smile lighting her. Char could count on one hand the people she'd been called cute by, all of them family members or long time friends, but Remus thought her cute? Or at least her ranting? She nodded as he continued, grateful that he was switching the topic slightly, as she didn't quite know how to respond to his first. Whenever she tried to talk about things of true interest to her, the girl was normally shut down, those she shared company with preferring to converse as if there was nothing the matter with the world, while its problems were glaring to her.

She allowed herself to watch him after he musingly took the book, seeing how the soft light from the window picked up colors in his hair she'd not noticed before, outlined his handsome profile...And though she knew it was silly - or, rather, had always thought it to be silly, putting your worth into what a boy thought of your looks - Char was still stuck on this particular boy thinking her to be cute in whatever way, shape, or form that he did. It wasn't as if her self-image was terrible, and Alexandra had done much to show her what she could do to accentuate her looks if she'd only take the time to, but the Gryffindor had focused on academics instead of herself that someone thinking this of her came as a surprise. His eyes caught hers and although that in itself was a bit embarrassing, she nodded her agreement, smiling a bit at his words, as he affirmed her remark from earlier.

As they addressed this unknown territory - knowing that they were on a date together - Charlotte was rather comforted simply by his being as, in as fond of a way as possible, awkward about this as she was. It was apparent that he hadn't much of an idea of what to do either, for which she was grateful. If she was on her first date with someone who had done this so often that it'd become old hat, it would surely be more intimidating than this. Not that this wasn't intimidating - but he'd been right in choosing this place for them, and he had a way about him that made her want to feel at ease with him. Given some time...they could get there, right? If they so chose. If this went well.

He was moving closer to her, though, before seemingly thinking it a bad idea, quickly mentioning one of her choices. Not sure how to feel about that, Charlotte gave him a smile regardless in thanks, moving to open that one up. "This was the first I checked out," she said, remembering how magical the gilded illustrations had seemed to her eyes. "We had no muggle books at home, and I thought this would give me some insight - be a first step in learning about that other world. Turned out that many of them were rather darker than I'd imagined they'd be, but good morals within, nonetheless. You know it?" she asked curiously, looking to him.

[Remus Lupin]

It had been a stupid idea to bring the book back. He could have easily checked it out on his own time, but he bemused that perhaps his subconcious was trying to find out how she would react to his biggest secret. Not that he wanted to tell her, but knowing that she thought he, or at least people like him, were people and not beasts was oddly reassuring. It made him have hope, something he hadn't felt for quite a long time when it came to his condition. Sure, his friends accepted it willing, but it wasn't like he intended to date any of them. Being a friend of a werewolf, and being the girlfriend of a werewolf? Two entirely different things. While he had no doubt that he would gain more friends in the next part of his life that wouldn't care about his misfortunate, the idea of a future with a significant other had long ago left his mind.

Until now. While he didn't know what would come of this first date, he knew he had hope. He had an idea that maybe one day he could have a future. Children were out of the question, that was something he wasn't entirely upset about. But someone who would spend their life loving him and being with him a way a friend could not? Maybe there was a chance for that after all.

He realized he was getting ahead of himself, and brought his thoughts back to the reality at hand, and to the beautiful girl sitting next to him. He was risking a lot just be being in her prescence, but he didn't care at this moment. He would risk everything he could risk for a chance to be around this girl, the one who took one look at a silly book and gave him happiness for a brief moment that his condition wasn't incredibly dire. He smiled as she talked about how it was the first book she had checked out. He picked up the book from her stack, rubbing his hand across the cover, "Indeed. Most common muggle fairy tales came from this book, but the darkness has been taken out of them. My mother read this to me when I was growing up. She's a muggle," he paused, setting the book on top of her stack. "I feel very lucky to have learned about Muggles before I started school here. It's amazing what they can accomplish without magic."

He leaned back in his chair, tilting his head as he studied the girl. They needed to discuss more about how this was a date, and he wasn't sure where to begin. Nevertheless, he reached over and touched her hand lightly, "Charlotte...I know this is weird. Me asking you on a date. I don't know. I just, I like you. In a way I've never really liked another person and you make me feel very happy. I know your brother is...overprotective. But can I ask you if you would consider another date with me? Someplace slighty more private?"

[Charlotte Fudge]

Charlotte watched, listening intently, as Remus spoke about his connection to the book of fairytales. She was a fan of acquiring new knowledge, and found learning about him to be more intriguing than she'd anticipated. It'd simply been so long since she'd tried to get to know anyone, if truth be told, that she was worried she'd muck this up - but if today she learned nothing else but Remus enjoyed her company and that his mother was a muggle and had read him these stories, she'd count that as a success. She nodded in agreement to his words, having thought these thoughts herself.

After he'd spoken about Grimm's, Char was going to ask about another he'd chosen when Remus began looking at her with consideration; unused as she was to being under someone's full attention, the younger Gryffindor didn't quite know what to do, where to look...but she chose to return his gaze. This simple act sent clichéd butterflies into the girl's stomach, and this sensation only increased as he gently touched her hand. It would've been such a small gesture to most, but this was a big first for Charlotte - from the sparks that his touch sent through her, it was as if every nerve she had was concentrated into that square inch of her. He was showing his interest, and was soon speaking it, and she did her best to process everything as he said it, but...

"I...I make you happy?" She was rather stuck on this statement, smiling with a sort of pleased bemusement that she'd not experienced before. The thought that she did this for him - and that he already wanted a second date, even after addressing the hippogryff in the room that was her brother - was making her smile that silly smile, and she found she couldn't stop. Char knew that accepting him would lead to trouble - Cole wouldn't take any of this lightly - but who was she to knowingly deny both Remus and herself a bit of happiness? And the butterflies had been sent into a frenzy at him wanting a date that was more private, for what could he mean by that? She was feeling an implicit trust towards him, which could be dangerous, but she felt just a strongly that he wouldn't be the sort of boy that her brother had warned her about. The sort who would try to take advantage of her naiveté.

That...wasn't Remus.

She belatedly realized that she was nodding her assent, and stopped, smiling a bit sheepishly.

"Thanks for - " Being who you are. " - that. All of that. Honestly, I've never been in this sort of situation either, so hearing that...it helps. So much," she said, steadying herself as she found his eyes again, found the strength and comfort within them to continue. "And it - it is weird, but it shouldn't - doesn't - have to be. Cole, he's - " She caught herself in a sigh as she thought of the battles that would be inevitably fought over this, if she went with her instinct, her heart, but continued as steadily as she could.  " - he's difficult, but he's my brother. And a rational being at heart. At his...innermost heart." She said her amendment gently, but knowingly, as she was fully aware of his ideas on this subject, the combative attitude to which any admission from her to him would incite. But Cole had to have known that this would come at some point or another, right? She wasn't a child, and Remus was a good-hearted bloke. It wasn't as if she was interested in someone who would be bad for her - much too logical for that. She and Remus could just...fit. So the young woman gave him another nod, asking through her nerves at a more "private" date, "What did you have in mind?"

[Remus Lupin]

He felt bit awkward, as he realized halfway through talking that he was sort of rambling on about the book of fairy tales. He wondered if he had shared too much about his home life. While he didn’t think Charlotte would care about his lack of being pureblood, he knew that is was a common trait of parents to care and well, he wasn’t sure if Cole cared about it or not. He was sure as a friend Cole had no qualms, but perhaps a half-blood dating his sister would be almost as bad as the fact Remus was his roommate. She didn’t seem to care, though, as she had simply nodded although with his thoughts. Just listening to him. He wasn’t used to that much focus being directed at him by people other than his close friends.

As he touched her hand, though, he was surprised at how he suddenly felt calm. And energized. It was like electricity had shot through his body and it was nice. While he was fully aware that if anyone was to walk into the library they could have a sticky situation on their hands, he didn’t care. His parents had always told him that some things in life were worth the risk. It was how he got through a lot of situations when it came to his situation. And this, this feeling he had was certainly one of those things in life that was going to be worth it.

He smiled awkwardly as she started speaking, ”Is that weird to say? I don’t know I’m just really happy being here. With you.” He had been so nervous for all of this, but now all he felt was insane happiness. He was giddy, and he was overly excited to return to the dorm later and tell Sirius and James that he had totally not screwed up a date with a girl. He ran his thumb across her hand lightly as she nodded at him, matching her smile when it appeared across her face.

He nodded as she spoke of Cole, appreciating that she was addressing it more than he had. Cole had made his roommates promise a long time ago that they would never chase after his sister, and Remus was doing exactly what he said he wouldn’t. But he trusted Charlotte, and her words made him pleased that she thought Cole wouldn’t be too irrational. ”You’re his sister, a part of me understands. He wants to protect you. I can’t dislike him for that,” he paused, unsure of how to proceed ”I hope that he can be rational about this.” It was more than a hope. Remus needed the boy to be rational. While James and Sirius would have his back, fighting roommates for their last year of school would take a toll on all of them.

”Oh uh. I don’t know. I’m rather terrible at this dating thing I think. I don’t know because I’ve never done it before and I don’t want to make anything weird, or anything like that. Like I’m not trying to ask anything weird, I just figured until we wanted to talk to your brother it would be best if other people didn’t talk to him first or something I guess. I should stop talking,” he answered, the words flowing nonstop from his mouth as the blush crept up from his neck onto his face.

[Charlotte Fudge]

How was it that Remus could be so open and honest and kind? Charlotte watched as he became more animated, feeling buoyed up herself as he spoke, ran his thumb across her hand, and simply...wanted to be there with her. She knew she should do something, but was at such a loss - was she supposed to hold his hand now? "No, no, I don't think it's weird. It's incredibly flattering," she said honestly, and picking a leaf from his book, continued, "and if it is odd to say, then I'm odd as well, because I'm happy here with you."

She listened to his words about Cole, her long latent worry at how someone would feel about this approaching her surface. Thankfully Remus was understanding, knowing already that her brother's worry was coming out of brotherly affection. She nodded as he finished, hoping for the same. Even though this was just their first date - and she hadn't acknowledged it was from the start - she didn't...want to go back to how they'd been. "I do too. His methods of protection are a bit on the side of the intense, but he'll listen to me." He must love me enough to, right? "And if he won't...I just wouldn't want to put you into any sort of situation, awkward or harmful or otherwise," she said, voice tinged with the guilt she felt at this predicament.

"Oh! No, that makes sense, grand idea," she said, matching his blush and looking away as she realized her own folly. Of course - he was just looking out for her, for them. Wanting them to have a way to see each other without worrying about what others thought, so that they could figure out them without the public eye telling them one way or another. Not that she'd be able to keep this from everyone, but seeing as how Alex already knew and was her dearest friend, and wouldn't tell a secret this big, no matter how juicy she thought it - she'd have her best friend's ear, and that was all she needed. "And you're not terrible at dating," Char continued, smiling through her blush as she looked to him. "Not that I've got anything to compare to, but you're making me feel more comfortable every moment, showed that you genuinely share an interest of mine, not just humored me but enthusiastically went along with an idea of mine...I feel like that should check off most everything on a theoretical preliminary dating checklist, don't you?" With a spurt of Gryffindor courage, she turned her hand under his to give it what she hoped was a reassuring squeeze.

[Remus Lupin]

When she told him that she was also happy being in the library with him, his heart fluttered. It was wonderful hearing her say that, it made his heart warm and fuzzy and he instantly felt like he could fly. Which was not something Remus enjoyed, and as such he had avoided broomsticks ever since flying lessons in their first year. But, he supposed, flying because of this amazing girl who was happy to be here with him wouldn't be quite so bad.

He felt a bit odd, talking about her brother on their first date. But it wasn't a situation they could avoid. Cole was his roommate, and Charlotte was a giant rule that Remus intended to keep breaking. But it was probably best to get the conversation out of the way early. He frowned when he heard the tone of her voice change, unsure of what she was feeling. "I'm sure he would listen to you. And to me, he knows what kind of person I am. I won't be in any sort of tough situation, I promise."

As she blushed, Remus gave a small laugh. It was cute, and sort of endearing that he could make her blush. It also made him feel not as awkward about his run on sentence and lack of thought process when he spoke to her at times. He matched her smile, returning the squeeze to her hand as he took in her thoughts. "Eh, according to James and Sirius I don't even know how to ask a lady out on a date. I think that's part of being decent at dating," he joked. "But I'm glad you are comfortable and enjoying this though. We'll check it off on the list." He gave her hand another squeeze, suddenly unsure of what to do. He didn't want to let go of her hand, but he wasn't sure where to take the conversation.

"Ah uhm. So. Which fairy tale is your favorite?"

[Charlotte Fudge]

Oh, how she just wanted to believe him. Believe that her brother would listen to them both, believe that she wasn't putting Remus into...not danger, as she figured he could handle himself if Cole reacted in a volatile manner, but discomfort, for regardless as to how her brother took the news the boys would be living together for the remainder of the year. You've come around to this idea rather quickly, a slightly awed but still nagging voice piped up. Didn't even realize you were on a date until you were on it...and now you're going to tell Cole about him?

    Well...not telling him yet! And it's not just as this is the first opportunity - he'd be good, no, grand for me. If I don't close up.

Speaking of, you should probably say something.

Char shot him a grateful smile, honestly hoping that what he said wasn't simply optimistic, but the truth. He had promised, and that had to mean that he felt it to be the truth... "Thanks for that," she said, truly meaning it. She just wasn't used to anyone wanting to risk something for her, for Remus had to know there was some risk, even though he thought all would be well. But I'm not worth you being put through hell by your roommate. "Just...let me know if anything changes. He's usually predictable, but I don't think he ever thought I'd - er - " She'd been about to say "disobey," but that just felt...too much. Even though it was true. "Go my own way. Not while he is still here, at least."

She grinned back, finding his eyes again, as he told her about his friends' take on their date - she hadn't thought about James Potter and Sirius Black ever being privy to her dating life, but here she was, and was finding it hilarious, or maybe that was just because this was all so much to take in. All she did was nod, though, not wanting to seem an absolute idiot for not having realized it was a date at the start.

When Remus abruptly asked her about the collection of stories, Charlotte opened her mouth to speak, but...she was drawing an absolute blank. Brushing her hair from her cheek with a free hand, she tried to focus her thinking, get out of her head, but this boy was awfully distracting. Never having allowed herself to be distracted by a boy before, Char was quite at a loss. How did people manage to constantly be around people they fancied? It was quite difficult to not look like a bumbling fool!

You picked out this book to share. Purposefully. This book sat on your nightstand for weeks as you reread every story, trying to understand the subtleties. You know this book. You can talk about this book for an age.

    Then why can't you now? When actually asked?

Awfully distracted by holding his hand, aren't you, Charlotte?

This last internal voice sounded frighteningly like her best friend, and the girl was pushed out of her funk by it, finally able to form a thought about the book itself and not about Remus and how warm her hand was in his and how she hoped hers wasn't sweating because how embarrassing would that be because this felt so nice and she didn't want it to stop here or for him to be put off of it happening again and -

"Sorry, ah - head's scattered,"  she admitted with a sheepish smile, briefly meeting his eyes before they threatened to make her lose her train of thought again. This was just all of a sudden so real - they'd been addressing what needed to be addressed, this was a date, they were going to have more, and she was growing rapidly more fond of Remus the more she allowed herself to think of positive potential outcomes. The girl instead turned her attention to the hand she held in hers as she spoke; she'd never held a boy's hand before, and although she didn't think herself petite, he was a good head and shoulders taller than her, his hand much larger than hers. It was interesting, the differences between their hands that she noticed as she took them into her lap, tentatively familiarizing herself with his as her free hand covered their entwined ones, in feeling the lines of him centering her enough to speak. Both had a calloused nub on their middle finger from holding quills too tightly, but besides that - his was laced with scars faded or ridged while hers were blemish-free, his cuticles rough from worrying as her nails were, hers seeming oddly delicate when wrapped in his...

"The Elves and the Shoemaker is one of my favorites. It was one of the only ones with a direct reference to the wizarding world, and it was so interesting to read because of that. Because it was so...well, for lack of a better term, magical to the shoemaker and his wife, you know? How the elves had so diligently worked and then disappeared when they were gifted with clothes. It just makes me think about the story's origin - since everything had to come from some sort of experience. How did the elves get into their custody? As they wouldn't have been freed if not given clothes by their master - but the shoemaker didn't know, of course, that they had become his...Probably put too much thought into it," she admitted with a light, self-depreciating laugh, chancing a look back up at him, "but it's an unsolvable puzzle, and thereby intriguing. Which were you fond of? Or are?"

ooc: ...seems that this is what happens when I don't write Char for a week or however long it's been xD Sorry for the megapost had lots of feels apparently ahahhaha

[Remus Lupin]

Remus nodded slowly, taking in Charlotte's words. Whatever she was scared of Cole doing, he wasn't going to worry about. Cole could do his worst, but Remus was going to back down. He wanted to tell her that, but he didn't want to upset her in any way. And coming on too strong on their first date was probably not the best course of action. Still, he would tread lightly when it came to her brother. There was a time and a place for things, and now was not the time or the place to piss off his fellow Gryffindor. "I'll let you know. Things will be fine though. I'm sure of it."

He ran his thumb across the back of her hand, enjoying how her tiny hand fit in his. He wanted to intertwine their fingers, to see how they fit, but he stopped himself. They were at an awkward angle, and he wasn't sure if she would even want to hold his hand in such a manner. So instead he moved his gaze to her, waiting for her response to his question.

He gave a small smile, "It's alright." He was enjoying himself, just sitting with her and watching her think. He was pretty sure he would enjoy anything that involved just sitting there with her, even if most people would think that to be incredibly boring. As she mentioned her favorite story, he smiled wider, pleased that she had picked that one. It had always been one of his favorites as well, and her reasonining behind picking it made him think. "I like that one a lot of as well. I suppose my second favorite would have to have been Rumpelstilzchen. I don't have a very good reason why, I just always found it interesting that he spun gold. Not sure why he wanted a baby though."

[Charlotte Fudge]

Smiling in response to his kind words, Char did her best to put that particular worry of hers out of her mind for the present. It was easier than she expected, as Remus just sounded so confident, so sure that things would work out. Cole did have to accept that she was growing up at some point, and this happening with Remus was...a good thing. The boys were well acquainted. Remus was a steadying presence in the group of male seventh year Gryffindors. He'd lived with Cole for years without any issue that had gotten down to Charlotte, at least.

Remus was sure.

She could be too.

She just...needed some time to get used to not only the idea of this but the reality of it. She wanted to remember every detail of this day, think on it later, talk bits out with Alexandra...and the way he smiled after she'd spoken, admitting she wasn't thinking straight, was definitely one of the pieces of today she wanted to hold on to. How've you stayed single? the girl thought, honestly at a loss. He was just what she needed, but wasn't trying to be - he just was. He just fit. Sitting here at her familiar table, holding hands, waiting patiently for her to figure out her thoughts - and seeming to honestly be just chuffed about the whole thing.

Not pushing. Not expecting.

Just being.

Together.

This could soon be her normal, the girl realized, and was buoyed up by the thought. She'd not had a companion like him before - her best friend preferred talk of anything to books, her brother as well, and although she did connect well with Lily, she was Head Girl now. Although she was still a part of her life, there was no denying that their relationship had been put on a sort of pause at the start of this year as the older Gryffindor was put to work.

And when she was able to string her words together? Remus' smile broadened, and their kinship increased by loving the same story, the comfort of that relaxing her hands about his while he shared, allowing her to look at him, listening actively. Charlotte's own smile widened as he spoke, and she gave a light chuckle at his end.

"A promise is a promise," she said, shrugging her slight shoulders. "Awfully odd trade to try and make, though, you are quite right. You said your mother read these to you? That's wonderful - are you close still? And with your father?" She'd heard of this being done, but hadn't experienced this in her own childhood. She read to herself at night, huddled up amongst her blankets and pillows until the candle at her bedside burned out. So just from that statement of his she knew that their houses had been incredibly different, and Charlotte was simply interested to know more.

[Remus Lupin]

He gave a small laugh, "I suppose you are right. Although I don't think I'll ever be promising any children to small and suspiscious men. Which I guess is the point of that one." He wasn't entirely sure of the point of many of the fairytales, expect that they weren't meant to terrify children. They had certainly done the job for him. Of course, the ones that had scared him the most had always been the ones with the big bad wolf.

A big, scary, wolf, who wanted to eat all the goat kids. That had always been the worst. And then the goat had eaten the children, but the mom had saved them all and filled the belly of the wolf with rocks. He always was happy at the end of that story, knowing that the wolf had died and counted hurt anyone. He'd been so young and so afraid of the wolf. It was ironic, he supposed, that it had been the wolf that had hurt him. That had changed his life forever. His mother had stopped reading him the stories about the wolf after that.

Realizing that he hadn't spoken for a few minutes, he gave a grin, "Sorry. Lost in thought about the stories. Yea, my mum used to read them to me. She still would if I would let her..." He gave a small laugh, thinking about how she would scold him for not letting to do even the simpliest things for him. "We are still close. I write to her often, and I go visit her. She's sick a lot. As for my dad, well. We have a decent relationship but things are complicated. He feels guilty for my mom being sick."

The lie was so natural, and he instantly felt guilty. He didn't want to lie to her, but it wasn't like he could tell her the truth. The fact his father and him weren't close was the fact that Lyall Lupin felt incredibly guilty for Remus' condition. Ever since he was a boy, the two hadn't been close because of it. Not to mention it had been a hard secret for them to keep. He wasn't a registered werewolf, and that was against Ministry rules. Lyall could lose his job if people found out about Remus' condition.

"What about your parents?"

[Charlotte Fudge]

Charlotte laughed along with him at his remark about the tricksy Rumplestiltskin, careful to keep herself quiet enough so they wouldn't attract attention of the persnickety librarian, who seemed to have an acute sense for any sort of frivolity within the expansive library, or other students, who could get word of her date with Remus to her brother. Not that she felt he had roped first years into an agreement to spy on her or anything, but people talked, which she knew quite well from being close with Alex, a self-proclaimed gossip. She'd done well at not being the subject of talk, and planned to keep it that way. Any sort of spotlight was unappealing to the girl, likely because it would be such a foreign experience.

Quiet moments turned to minutes as Remus seemed to retreat into thought, but Char didn't really mind. Sure, she loved hearing him speak, but any sort of relationship wasn't meant to work if there couldn't be comfortable silences between the involved parties. The air didn't constantly need to be filled with chatter, and the quiet allowed her some time to continue getting used to the feeling of her hand in his, of simply being in such close proximity to him...

But she returned his grin with a smile when he spoke, enjoying listening him speak so fondly about his mother, and her interest was piqued as he admitted to the complications in his relationship with his father. "That's wonderful that you've stayed so close with your mum, it's definitely not something everyone's able to do while we're away for so much of the year. And I'm sorry to hear your father carries such guilt," she said, not knowing how to press for more information or even if she should, given that this was their first true one-on-one time. But she was saved from further deliberation as Remus asked about her own family.

"We're - er - not too close," she said, focusing her attention on their hands again. "My father works for the Centaur Liaison Office, so he's often traveling, checking up on local authorities and the like, making sure that relations are being kept strong and all. And my mother - um - we've just never really had much in common. She and my sister do - can talk about parties and society and shopping for days." She gave a rather strained smile at that, not wanting to be a downer, but this was why she didn't bring up her family often. It wasn't as if Charlotte wished these things for herself - she was bored to death at the pureblooded affairs she'd been dragged along to, and at the Ministry gatherings her father wouldn't let her go off on her own to seek out people whose work she found interest in - but rather she wished that she didn't feel like such an outsider in her own home. She was grateful for the physical and financial comfort of belonging to the Meyers family, but would trade that for a sense of belonging given the opportunity. "But it's all right," she said, trying to lighten the mood as she looked back to him. It wasn't as if this was a newly developed phenomenon - she was used to it, and had friends here. It was fine.